Christopher Thompson Named Executive Director of Generator

Christopher Thompson Named Executive Director of Generator

The Board of Generator is pleased to announce the appointment of Christopher Thompson as Executive Director. Chris is a founding board member of Generator with over twenty years of experience in corporate technology management and ten years in non-profit institutions focused on the intersection of art and technology. Chris is also a lifelong Maker.

As the founder and Director of the Champlain College Art Gallery, he has staged over fifty exhibitions. Chris has taught Professional Practices for Artists and other courses at Champlain since 2013. Prior to coming to Champlain College, Chris was the curator of the BCA Center in Burlington Vermont where he staged over thirty exhibitions in five years and was awarded a 2008-09 Andy Warhol Foundation grant. Chris’s artwork, inspired by data-visualization, complex systems theory, neuroscience and artificial intelligence algorithms has been featured in exhibitions, publications, and lectures. Chris has served as a Lecturer in Digital Art at the University of Vermont, and as Visiting Artist at the Vermont Studio Center. He has received artist grants from the National Endowment for the Arts/Vermont Arts Council and the Vermont Community Foundation. Chris is a twenty-two year resident of Burlington’s South End neighborhood and serves on the board of SEABA—the South End Arts and Business Association.

Before becoming an artist Chris spent over twenty years in corporate technology management, including six years as Chief Technology Officer for Gardner’s Supply Corporation, overseeing its $35 million/year e-commerce business and seven years as Director of Advanced Technology for Jager Di Paola Kemp Design, creators of the Burton and Xbox brands. Chris is a 2014 graduate of the Champlain College MFA in Emergent Media program.

Chris takes the helm of Generator at a pivotal time in its development. In January 2017, the organization moved to its new location at 40 Sears Lane in the South End Arts and Business District. The move has allowed Generator to expand its studio space and offerings to community members. Generator was originally founded in March 2014 with support from the City of Burlington, Champlain College, the University of Vermont and numerous institutional, corporate, and individual donors and it has become a hub of creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation in Burlington and Vermont.

“The initial concept and design of Generator was done as my thesis project for my MFA program in Emergent Media at Champlain College,” said Chris Thompson. “It has been gratifying to help bring that original vision to life and watch it grow, and I’m excited to have this opportunity to take it into the next phase of its evolution.”

Generator is a combination of artist studio, classroom, and business incubator at the intersection of art, science, and technology. For more information about Generator, membership, and programs, visit https://generatorvt.com/ or call 802-540-0761. Chris Starts in his new role on August 24